78th Tata Steel Chess Tournament

History

During its 77 year history, the Tata Steel Chess Tournament has attracted some of the biggest names in chess history. Visitors to the tournament have witnessed the rise and domination of players like Norway's Magnus Carlsen, India's Viswanathan Anand, and Russia's Gary Kasparov.

Carlsen first played at the tournament in 2004, the same year as he became a chess grandmaster. The reigning World Chess Champion has since returned ten times to play in the Tata Steel Chess Tournament.

Meanwhile the tournament continues to support the next generation of world class players such as Anish Giri from Holland, and America's talent Wesley So.

Results

World champion Magnus Carlsen has won the 78th edition of the Tata Steel Chess Tournament and unbeaten as well. It is the fifth time that Carlsen has won the tournament in Wijk aan Zee, equalling the record set by Anand. Fabiano Caruana (United States) and Ding Liren (China) shared second spot. Carlsen received his prize from Theo Henrar, chairman of the directors of Tata Steel Nederland. Henrar also announced that the 79th edition of the Tata Steel Chess Tournament will take place from Friday 13 - Sunday 29 January 2017.

Adhiban Baskaran (India), Alexey Dreev (Russia) and Eltaj Safarli (Azerbaijan) share first place in the Tata Steel Challengers. Having the best result in his matches against the other two, Baskaran has earned promotion to the Tata Steel Masters at the Tata Steel Chess Tournament 2017.

Vladimir Dobrov (Russia) has won the Top 10 Tournament. This means that he will participate in the Tata Steel Challengers in 2017.

The Vugar Gashimov Award for fair play, introduced this year by Sarkhan Gashimov in memory of his brother Vugar, who died in 2014, has been awarded to David Navara and Jorden van Foreest. Both have shown good sportsmanship in many ways during the tournament. They received the prize from Sarkan Gashimov.

Professor Johan van Hulst, who turned 105 last week, awarded the prize for the most promising talent to Jorden van Foreest and Wei Yi.

Young people and chess

Theo Henrar: “Tata Steel is proud of the community we are part of. We support the IJmond region through various initiatives, with an emphasis on young people. The theme of our community policy is Future Generations. This year we have focused on engaging young people and successfully so. More than 1,500 children have taken part in the Tata Steel Chess Tournament 2016. In Wijk aan Zee, but also at the Telstar Stadium, Science Center NEMO in Amsterdam and the Railway Museum in Utrecht. At the chess simultaneous at the Telstar Stadium the children were surprised to see Carlsen, Van Wely and several other grandmasters play a football match. And at half time they even visited their simultaneous, with Carlsen giving some of the participants tips about their position. Chess inspires and unites people of all ages all over the world and we wholeheartedly support that.”

Mental strength

The winner’s trophy consists of a partly folded automotive steel rod that has weathered a crash test. This represents the link with Tata Steel and symbolizes a chess player’s mental strength, of which resilience is an integral part.

Steel and chess: creativity and innovation

The Tata Steel Chess Tournament has a long tradition. Starting as an employee tournament, it has grown into an international tournament of world class renown, for which grand masters and amateurs alike will clear their diaries. Tata Steel has chosen for chess, because chess entails strategic thinking and focuses on finding creative solutions for complex issues. Steelmaking has that very same focus. It is a high-tech process with a crucial role for innovation. Tata Steel employees are continuously working on improving processes and products in order to help customers be successful in their markets while contributing to creating a sustainable society. Among chess aficionados the tournament in Wijk aan Zee is known as ‘The Wimbledon of Chess’.

Final Cross Table

PGN

For your convenience all of the games from the Masters and Challengers have been compiled into a massive PGN file for your download. This file is a whopping 182 games big so you don't miss anything from this event.

Round 1

Round 1 pairings

In round 1 Daniel King explores the game between Caruana and Eljanov.

After several moves the game enters a sharp line of the Vienna variation of the Queen's Gambit. White sacrifices a pawn early on for a lead in development and a large space advantage, but black didn't give in without a fight.

Daniel King analyses the game Caruana vs Eljanov from round 1 of the Tata Steel Chess Masters.

Round 2

Round 2 pairings

In round 2 Daniel King explores the game between Carlsen and Caruana.

While all the games in round 2 were drawn that didn't mean they were boring. Carlsen opens with a slightly unorthodox system which transposes into a "sort of" closed Sicilian. Carlsen then probes Caruana with an h pawn advance.

Daniel King analyses the game Carlsen vs Caruana from round 2 of the Tata Steel Chess Masters.

Round 3

Round 3 pairings

In round 3 Daniel King explores the game between Navara and Giri.

This game features a sharp Grunfeld system and enters a position rich with tactics and requiring accurate calculation. This game is a good example of hyper-modernism vs the classical school of chess. In the end the game concluded in a draw.

Daniel King analyses the game Navara vs Giri from round 3 of the Tata Steel Chess Masters.

Round 4

Round 4 pairings

In round 4 Daniel King explores the game between Hou and Navara.

The game started as an advanced Caro-Kann with white gaining a large space advantage out of the opening. After a very well calculated and careful exchange sacrifice white took control of the position and pressed on for the win.

Daniel King analyses the game Hou Yifan vs Navara and Giri vs Caruana from round 4 of the Tata Steel Chess Masters.

Round 5

Round 5 pairings

In round 5 Daniel King explores the game between van Wely and Carlsen.

Carlsen was well prepared with a minor (but trending) line of the Grunfeld - 6...Be6. Carlsen sacrificed a pawn on move 9 to "keep more juice" in the position, but regained it before too long. After getting into time trouble van Wely succumbed.

Daniel King analyses the game Loek van Wely vs Magnus Carlsen from round 5 of the Tata Steel Chess Masters.

Round 6

Round 6 pairings

In round 6 Daniel King explores the game between Carlsen and Tomashevsky.

After Carlsen's first win of the tournament he chose an "anti-theory" opening and entered the London system. After luring his opponent into this setup Carlsen seized his chances and dominated the game from move 17 onward.

Daniel King analyses the game Magnus Carlsen vs Evgeny Tomashevsky from round 6 of the Tata Steel Chess Masters.

Round 7

Round 7 pairings

In round 7 Daniel King explores the game between Eljanov and Carlsen.

The game was a Catalan and Carlsen once again entered a slightly lesser variation with more tension. Carlsen found some novel positional nuances and resisted material to tempt his opponent into a double edged position full of fire.

Daniel King analyses the game Pavel Eljanov vs Magnus Carlsen from round 7 of the Tata Steel Chess Masters.

Round 8

Round 8 pairings

In round 8 Daniel King explores the game between Navara and Caruana.

Caruana and Carlsen shared the lead heading into round 8. Carlsen drew his game leaving Caruana the opportunity to take the lead. After 31 moves the players entered a complex end game with RBPPPP each. Navara played actively and ended up winning.

Daniel King analyses the game David Navara vs Fabiano Caruana from round 8 of the Tata Steel Chess Masters.

Round 9

Round 9 pairings

In round 9 Daniel King explores the game between Wei and Navara.

From a Berlin Spanish Wei declined the endgame with 4.d3 and then exchanged on c6. After a "mutual novelty" in 10.h4 from Wei and Caruana white was rewarded for his aggressive play with a strong technical win from a crushing king side attack.

Daniel King analyses the game Wei Yi vs David Navara from round 9 of the Tata Steel Chess Masters.

Round 10

Round 10 pairings

In round 10 Daniel King explores the game between Caruana and Wei.

In an open Spanish, Caruana played ambitiously on the kingside and was rewarded with a large space advantage in a double edged position. After a subtle mistake from Wei, Caruana seized the moment and took control of the board.

Daniel King analyses the game Fabiano Caruana vs Wei Yi from round 10 of the Tata Steel Chess Masters.

Round 11

Round 11 pairings

In round 11 Daniel King explores the games between Carlsen and Hou, and then Mamedyarov and Caruana.

In a round marred by fatigued play Carlsen lasted the distance against Hou and forced the win in a pure pawn endgame.

Mamedyarov played an amazing exchange sacrifice to try and queen, but Caruana hung on to secure the draw.

Daniel King analyses the highlights from round 11 of the Tata Steel Chess Masters.

Round 12

Round 12 pairings

In round 12 Daniel King explores the game between Caruana and van Wely.

van Wely played a Sicilian Najdorf and Caruana responded with an English style attack with an early f3. van Wely countered by entering the a solid Scheveningen structure. However, van Wely's solid structure and queenside counter-play wasn't enough to hold off Caruana's attack.